lustering

lus·ter

 (lŭs′tər)

n.

1. Soft reflected light; sheen.

2. Brilliance or radiance of light; brightness.

3. Glory, radiance, distinction, or splendor, as of achievement, reputation, or beauty.

4. A glass pendant, especially on a chandelier.

5. A decorative object, such as a chandelier, that gives off light.

6. Any of various substances, such as wax or glaze, used to give an object a gloss or polish.

7. The surface glossiness of ceramic ware after glazing, especially the metallic sheen of lusterware.

8. A fabric having a glossy surface.

9. The appearance of a mineral surface judged by its brilliance and ability to reflect light.

v. lus·tered, lus·ter·ing, lus·ters

v.tr.

1. To give a gloss, glaze, or sheen to.

2. To give or add glory, radiance, distinction, or splendor to.

v.intr.

To be or become lustrous.

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[French lustre, from Old French, from Old Italian lustro, from lustrare, to make bright, from Latin lūstrāre, from lūstrum, purification; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.